William Edward Buckley

William Edward Buckley, 91, of Jefferson City, died Sunday, February 24, 2013, at Summit Villa Assisted Living Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 1, 1921, in New York City, the son of the late John J. and Nora Phelan Buckley. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps following Pearl Harbor during World War II and fought as a nose gunner on B-24 bombers, serving in Italy. He was united in marriage on November 21, 1942, in St. Louis, Mo., to Emily LeMaster Coffey, who preceded him in death in 1984. Following World War II, Mr. Buckley proudly served in the United States Air Force for 25 years and later worked for the Social Security Administration until his retirement. Bill was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, spending hours in prayer in the Adoration Chapel and had a special devotion to the Holy Rosary. He also volunteered at Capital Region Medical Center. Bill enjoyed reading, especially loving history and astronomy. He was a world traveler, journeying to many countries on every continent. But what he enjoyed most was being surrounded by his family; his children, grandchildren and great-grand-children. Other survivors include: two children, William E. Buckley Jr. and his wife Diana of Dallas, Ore., and Mary Susan Buckley Fischer and her husband Thomas of Jefferson City; his daughter-in-law, Lynn Van Horn of Sacramento, Calif.; three grandchildren, Kelly Visco of Petaluma, Calif., Matthew Fischer and his wife Julie of Holts Summit, and Terry Buckley French of Huntington, Texas; and five great-grandchildren, Meighan and Cassidy Visco of Petaluma, Calif., and Kelsey, Madison, and Joshua Fischer of Holts Summit, Mo. He was also preceded in death by his loving daughter, Pamela Anne Buckley. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at St. Peter Catholic Church with the Rev. Austin Okoli officiating and Bill's son-in-law, Deacon Thomas Fischer, assisting. Interment will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, with full military honors. Visitation will 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Society of St. Vincent dePaul, St. Peter Conference, St. Peter Catholic Church, 216 Broadway, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.